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The 10 saddest deaths in ‘House of the Dragon,’ ranked

July 8, 20240
Paddy Considine as King Viserys Targaryen in “House of the Dragon.”

HBO

Hear us out: We loved Paddy Considine as Viserys, but his death was so written on the wall that it couldn’t even bring much surprise or sadness. For one, it’s necessary to kick off a war of succession. But more importantly, it was preceded by a long, leprosy-like illness.

Over the first season of “House of the Dragon,” Viserys’ health gradually declines as his children grow older and the issue of his succession grows more salient. By the end of his life, his illness has progressed to the extent that you’re kind of hoping the guy will die. Too bad his final words brought about such a huge misunderstanding that it launched an entire Targaryen family civil war. Whoops!

Still, we mourn Viserys and the comparative peace of his era — but without his death, we really wouldn’t have a “House of the Dragon.”

9. Daemon murders his first wife, Lady Rhea Royce.
Harwin and Lyonel Strong both died at the command of Larys Strong in “House of the Dragon.”

Ollie Upton/HBO

Ser Harwin Strong and his father Lyonel, for some time the Hand of the King, weren’t particularly beloved characters. But their tragic death at the hands of one of their own — Larys Strong — was still rather striking.

After the birth of Rhaenyra’s third son, Joffrey, Harwin got into an altercation with Ser Criston Cole after Criston insinuated that Harwin was Jacaerys and Lucerys’ father. In the wake of the event, Lyonel attempted to resign from his position as Hand, citing the dishonor that Harwin brought on their family. Viserys rejects his resignation but allows him to escort Harwin back to Harrenhal. Unfortunately, Larys’ plot is waiting for them: both men die in a fire once they make it back to the castle.

Harwin, despite clearly being hot-blooded, seems like an alright guy — and it’s pretty cruel to kill him right after Jacaerys realizes that Harwin is his father. And compared to other Hands (i.e. Otto Hightower), Lyonel seemed relatively unbiased when it came to the affairs of the crown.

7. Jahaerys Targaryen is murdered after a miscommunication.
Erryk (Ellliot Tittensor) and Arryk (Luke Tittensor) Cargylle in “House of the Dragon.”

HBO

Though Arryk Cargyll and Erryk Cargyll had more control over their deaths, since they chose to fight till the end, that doesn’t make their deaths any less sad.

In season one, the twins work together as Kingsguard protecting the royal family. But when the Greens usurp the throne, they are split for the first time. Arryk sides with Aegon II while Erryk leaves and joins Rhaenyra’s Queensguard.

When Criston Cole sends Arryk to slay Rhaenyra in episode two, the brothers’ impending showdown begins. The scene is a messy, vicious fight, and it is hard to tell which twin wins.

After slaying his brother, Erryk stabs themselves with their sword after realizing what he has done.

It is heartbreaking that these twins are forced to pick duty over their own kin. Their deaths highlight how painful and destructive this civil war will be for the non-royal members of Westeros.

5. Joffrey Lonmouth was brutally beaten to death by Criston Cole.
Laena Velaryon, now married to Daemon Targaryen, in “House of the Dragon.”

HBO

The first season features a second agonizing pregnancy-related death, as Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell) takes her own life in episode six.

After marrying Daemon and moving to Pentos, Laena struggles with a complicated birth, and her husband is offered the same choice that Viserys had: save his wife, or save the baby. However, Laena takes control of the situation and decides her own fate.

She goes to her dragon, Vhagar, and commands him to burn her alive with the “dracarys” command. It’s upsetting because Laena is forced into that situation, albeit at least it’s her own decision. But seeing how reluctant Vhagar is to kill his rider just makes the whole scene even more upsetting.

3. Rhaenys sacrifices herself and her dragon, Meleys, at Rook’s Rest.
Paddy Considine and Sian Brooke costar as King Viserys and Queen Aemma in HBO’s “House of the Dragon.”

Ollie Upton/HBO

“House of the Dragon” made a bloody debut in the premiere episode of the first season with the heartbreaking death of King Viserys’ (Paddy Considine) wife, Queen Aemma (Sian Brooke).

When Aemma goes into labor, the baby gets stuck, and Viserys is forced to decide whether to save his wife or the baby. The King chooses his unborn child hoping to get a male heir to the Targaryen throne.

The maesters cut Aemma’s belly open to save the child, killing her in the process. It’s tragic because Aemma’s agency is taken away from her, and she’s completely disregarded for the possibility of a male heir.

The devastating scene is only made worse when the baby, Baelon, dies just one day after being born.

1. Lucerys is the first major casualty of the Dance of the Dragons.
Elliot Grihault and Emma D’Arcy as Lucerys and Rhaenyra in “House of the Dragon.”

Ollie Upton/HBO

Lucerys and his dragon Arrax’s deaths are truly the biggest tragedies of “House of the Dragon.”

Though the Greens and the Blacks were preparing for an eventual war, there is a possibility that they could have found another way to settle the throne debate after a cooling-off period. But there is no reconciliation once Lucerys, a child and an heir, is slain.

Not only did Lucerys’ death essentially kick-start a terrible civil war, but it was entirely accidental.

The death scene itself is almost like a horror movie, with Aemond and Vhagar stalking and taunting Lucerys and Arrax in the dark, rainy skies. Aemond sees this as an opportunity to toy with and harm Lucerys as revenge for his eye, but Vhagar goes too far.

There is a short moment where Lucerys thinks he has escaped, and then Vhagar leaps out of nowhere and rips the dragon and its rider apart.

Lucerys may have lost his life, but Aemond now has to live with the weight that an accident caused the death of a relative and a civil war.